The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
has presented the Mark Trail NOAA Weather Radio, All Hazards Award
to Cherry County, Neb., Emergency Management Director Eilene Brannon.
Brannon will receive the award at a June 3 ceremony in Washington,
D.C. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Now in its eighth year, the Mark Trail Award program
honors individuals and organizations that use or provide NWR receivers
and transmitters to save lives and protect property. Twenty award
recipients will be recognized nationally this year.

“The Cherry
County Emergency Management Director, Eilene Brannon, has made a valuable
contribution to her community,” said retired Navy Vice Adm.
Conrad C. Lautenbacher,
Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA
administrator. “NOAA Weather Radio can provide the public with
those extra minutes of warning in situations where minutes can save
lives.”

Brannon was honored for her personal efforts in promoting
public awareness of NWR and providing Weather Radio receivers for
local users. Brannon used grants to buy receivers for all government
buildings, schools, shelters, hospitals, law enforcement agencies,
fire/rescue departments, dam operators and other buildings in Cherry
County. She also worked with retailers to provide receivers at discounted
prices and promoted NWR use in numerous media interviews.

According to Debra D. Blondin, warning coordination
meteorologist at the North Platte National Weather Service Forecast
Office, Brannon’s actions have helped ensure the safety of Cherry
County residents. “Thanks to Eilene’s efforts, both professional
and personal, Cherry County residents can now access severe weather
and other warnings quickly,” Blondin said.

The Mark Trail award is named for the nationally syndicated
comic strip character which serves as the campaign symbol for the
NOAA Weather Radio program. Since 1995, Jack Elrod, writer and illustrator
of Mark Trail, and King Features Syndicate have been strong advocates
for publicizing severe weather safety through the use of weather radios.

“Jack Elrod
and his alter ego, Mark Trail, have been great partners to NOAA National
Weather Service in helping educate the public to the importance of
having a NOAA Weather Radio in your home when danger threatens,”
said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David
L. Johnson, director of the National Weather Service.

NOAA's National
Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and
warnings for the United States and its territories. The National Weather
Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast
system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance
the national economy. To learn more about NWS, please visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov.

NOAA is dedicated
to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction
and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental
stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To
learn more about NOAA, please visit: http://www.noaa.gov.